Matt Wilhelm Bike Check

ltyoung

• June 17 2008
• 1,719 views
• 5 comments

We recently caught up with Wilhelm in New Orleans just before he won 2nd at the Flatland Voodoo Jam. He just got picked up by Hoffman and is stoked to be riding a flatland bike that still looks like a traditional BMX bike.

Name: Matt Wilhelm
Age: 29
Location: Chicago, IL
Sponsors: Hoffman Bikes just sponsored me, so you know I am super excited about that. I also ride for Dan’s Comp, who has sponsored me since before I was even pro. I also get some free stuff from Suelo and Adio as well.

Frame: Hoffman Bikes Strowler (shorter version: 18.8″ top tube)
Fork: Suelo minimal 18mm offset
Bars: Suelo Butt Bars (taller version)
Stem: Suelo 35mm
Grips: Hoffman Bikes Mushroom Grip
Barends: Cam Acura stainless steel. Great for when your bars occasionally drag on the ground.
Detangler: Odyssey GTX
Headset: I think it is FSA integrated.
Clamp: Hoffman Bikes
Seatpost: DK Goal Post
Seat: Primo Steroid, but I think that they are out of production. I wish someone would make an all plastic pivotal seat…hint, hint.
Cranks: Profile, 165mm with titanium spindle.
Sprocket: Suelo, 28 tooth
Chain: KHE hollow pin half-link
Brakes: Suelo Front and Fly Rear
Cable: Odyssey Slic Cables, with a Diatech flexie for the front. These Flexies are awesome.
Brake Lever: Diatech 77. You go with what works.
Front Tire: KHE folding 1.9″
Front Wheel: Demolition Zero rim with Suelo Hub.
Rear Tire: KHE folding 1.9″
Rear Wheel: Demolition Zero with Nankai freecoaster
Chain Tensioner: Quamen pops
Pegs: Suelo Magnesium
Pedals: Hoffman Solemate

Modifications/Other/Extras:
I wrap medical tape around my levers for comfort and also around the rails of the seat for the same reason. I cut my bars down to 23″ wide, and I run my tires around 130psi. I also inserted nickels into my barends…my pinky finger kept going inside the handlebar, and I thought that I was going to break my finger.
Which parts do you go through the most?
I got through tires the most, hands down. These KHE tires are awesome because they are so light, but I go through one about almost every week and rarely get more than two weeks out of them. My friend Ron has ridden the same pair for almost two years, but he doesn’t do too many spinning tricks. Maybe I just need to find a smoother riding spot…

Describe your bike setup and how you like your bike to feel…
I like the bike to be responsive. If my bars are too short or narrow I can’t get enough leverage on some spins and it takes too much arm strength to muscle some tricks around. I am thinking about gradually changing out some heavier parts to lighter parts, but sometimes if the bike is too light it is hard to get some weight for counterbalance.

A lot of flatland riders are only running front brakes or aren’t running brakes at all; any plans to remove some of them wheel stoppers?
I rode brakeless for a little bit back in the 90’s, and didn’t have a back brake for many years. For me it is all about my personal progression, so why would I hold myself back and restrict myself from some of my favorite tricks? I rarely use my back brake, but some of my favorite tricks require the back brake so they are staying on for sure.

Your bike, compared to a lot of new-school flatland bikes, looks a lot like a street/ramp bike (larger sprocket, large metal pedals, traditional frame design)… do you do any other kind of riding besides flat?
Some of these new flatland bikes don’t even look like bikes. One of the reasons I chose to ride for Hoffman Bikes was because the Strowler frame has everything you need with no gimmicks. Some of the top tubes on the new flatland bikes are so low that your seat post looks like it is 20 feet tall just to be at a normal height. I mean how lazy are we as riders to not be able to lift our foot another half an inch. I also do a lot of pedaling tricks, which is what the larger sprocket and medal pedals are all about. My bike setup has everything to do with riding flat, and I haven’t touched a ramp in years.

Why the tape on the levers?
It just feels really good on your fingers and makes the whole brake feel smoother. Chad DeGroot and I were in a stretch limo (don’t ask) and his bike was inside with the handlebars right next to me. During the ride I noticed that he had hockey tape on his lever so I decided to try it. I have found that medical/coach tape works the best.

You do demos and shows a lot for schools and kids so I have to assume you get a lot of questions about your bike from the little tykes… What is the most commonly asked question(s)?
Why is the gear so small, what type of bike is that, and where can I get it? Those questions come up every single show. It still amazes me how kids think you can do those tricks because of the type of bike. When I started riding flatland I only had two pegs (both were stripped out) on a GT Interceptor racing frame. I learned a lot of tricks on a junk bike, and when I got a decent one I was able to appreciate it fully.

You recently had a video on our site that a lot of people thought was sped up during the editing process… Do you really spin that fast?
I saw those comments and thought they were not only funny, but also really great compliments. I am not really sure how I go that fast. It was always something I worked for, but I can’t think of one thing that really explains how it happens. You know how some guys just have that pop on a jump. Well maybe some riders just have a fast spin in them. Absolutely nothing was sped up during the editing process, but I do remember drinking a lot coffee before I filmed that.

Click here to see Matt’s video part from earlier this year!

Click here to check out Matt’s setup!